Evidence leader in Mbenenge tribunal warns witness against committing perjury
Nkqayi, who is Mbenenge’s former secretary, is the first witness to be called by the judge president’s counsel in his defence.
Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge (centre) listens to testimony during the Judicial Conduct Tribunal's inquiry into sexual harassment allegations against him in Sandton, Johannesburg on 1 July 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The evidence leader in the sexual harassment probe against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has warned a witness, Zintle Nkqayi, against committing perjury.
Nkqayi, Mbenenge’s former secretary, is the first witness to be called by the judge president’s counsel in his defence.
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During cross-examination by Advocate Salome Scheepers, Nkqayi has attributed her great recollection of events in 2022 to her memory and revisiting her diary.
However, Scheepers is dissatisfied with her testimony, which has been in conflict with that of High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo, who accuses the top judge of making unwanted sexual advances towards her between 2021 and 2022.
Nkqayi was able to recall the granular details of 14 November 2022, fuelling Scheepers’ suspicions, and also testified that Mbenenge was at the bank and delivered a lecture on the day on which Mengo alleged that the judge summoned her to his chambers and asked that she perform a sexual act on him.
Scheepers warned Nkqayi of the consequences of lying under oath.
“Are you familiar with the term ‘perjury’? Perjury is when you give false testimony under oath. Now, I want to give you an opportunity to consider this very carefully: is there anything that you have told this panel that is either not true or maybe not totally correct that you want to change now? You are aware that if you give false evidence under oath, that is a criminal offence, and you can be charged?”